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Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Weekly Contest Winner - "A Smokin' Proposal"

Congratulations Penny! You've won a 100 dollar gift certificate redeembable at Executive Gift Shoppe

I once had a small, dimly lit restaurant intended to be a romantic
setting. One evening, just after dark, a couple came in to dine.
Judging
by their clothes, they appeared to be fairly well-heeled, and I wanted
to be sure they had a great dining experience. The woman had long hair,

about four inches longer than shoulder length. It was fine and curly
and
tended to fluff out away from her face and shoulders. My waitress,
Sarah, seated them, and while she left to get menus and drink orders, I

took a clean ashtray to the table and lighted the candle on their
table.
As I was placing the ashtray on the table more or less between them,
the
woman said, “Give it to him; I don’t smoke.” Then she added,
“You know,
I’ve never smoked only because I was always sure I’d probably catch
my
hair on fire.!” The man said, “She’s probably right – she’d
catch her
hair on fire, and that would be a real shame.” We all laughed a
little
obligatory laugh, and I went on back to the kitchen. Soon the waitress
came to get their complimentary “bread and spread” basket and the
appetizer plates. She delivered these to the table, took the couple’s

entree order and returned to the kitchen. While she was assembling
their
salads and I was beginning to work on their entree, I heard a scream
from the seating area, and we both ran out to see what was the matter.
Sarah left the kitchen first and yelled, “Fire!” I quickly turned
and
grabbed a fire extinguisher. The man was busy beating out flames on the

table while the woman was pulling at a lock of her hair. Other
customers
were standing and heading for the door. I grabbed a water pitcher and
doused the napkin, tablecloth and candle, dabbing everything with a
cloth, trying hard not to allow it to drip off the table and ruin these

folk’s nice clothes and assured everyone that all was under control.
When all fire seemed to be extinguished, the couple explained: It seems

that the man had presented the woman with an engagement ring and
proposal. As she turned to kiss him and say, “yes,” she dropped her

napkin on the table near the candle, catching the cotton napkin and
then
the tablecloth on fire and, leaning over as she was, subsequently
singed
a large section of her long hair. I was just glad they were both OK and

that the woman’s hair had not actually caught fire. The woman, who
was
blushing bright red by this time, sheepishly apologized to everyone for

starting the fire and burning the napkin and tablecloth. After I
assured
her that I was not upset in the least and was just glad she didn’t
actually start a fire on her head, she turned to her husband and said,
“Well, honey, light me a cigarette. I might as well take up
smoking!”
They returned some months later, married, and the woman had a stylish
new short haircut.

by: Executive Gift Shoppe